Although the U.S. focus remains on exerting diplomatic and economic pressure on Syria, the Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command have begun a preliminary internal review of U.S. military capabilities, CNN has learned.

The options are being prepared in the event President Barack Obama were to call for them. Two senior administration officials who spoke about the review to CNN emphasized that U.S. policy for now remains the use of non-military options.

The focus on diplomatic options was underscored by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

"Before we start talking about military options, we very much want to ensure that we have exhausted all the political, economic and diplomatic means at our disposal," Ambassador Susan Rice said on CNN's “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

The president has also said that the U.S. is working on non-military options first.

"I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention, and I think that's possible," Obama said in an interview with NBC News that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

But the military is beginning to look at what can be done. One of the senior U.S. officials called the effort a “scoping exercise” to see what capabilities are available given other U.S. military commitments in the region.

Both officials pointed out that this type of planning exercise is typical for the Pentagon, which would not want to be in the position of not having options for the president, if and when they are asked for.

It would be Gen. James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, who would provide details on what U.S. military assets are available, what missions they could perform if asked, and what risks U.S. forces might face.

“The Pentagon is closely monitoring developments in Syria. It wouldn’t be doing its job if it didn’t put some ideas on the table,” one of the senior U.S. officials told CNN. “But absolutely no decisions have been made on military support for Syria.”

The two officials were not willing to be identified because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Typically those types of options are held by the Pentagon as very preliminary plans and not even forwarded to the White House unless asked for. If asked, plans are then fleshed out with specific units to support them.

In this type of analysis being done, the military would typically look at all options ranging from humanitarian relief, to support for opposition groups, as well as outright military strikes, although that is an unlikely option, both officials said.

“This remains a campaign to apply economic and diplomatic pressure,” the first official said.

The military’s work to analyze potential military options for Syria has been quietly going on for several weeks, two administration officials confirm to CNN. The bulk of the analysis is being done by staff of General Mattis, who would be the senior commander if the President were to order any action.

Mattis’ analysis is being shared with General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who would then present options to the White House, if it came to that.

“We don’t want to be in the position of suddenly dusting off some five year old plan,” one official said. The official emphasized the work is extremely preliminary but said the military would look at a full range of contingencies.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Armed Services committee, told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. should consider "all options including arming the opposition."

But U.S. officials said that adding weapons into the volatile and violent situation is not a viable option.

"We never take anything off the table. The president does (or) doesn't. However, as the president himself made absolutely clear and as the secretary has continued to say, we don't think more arms into Syria is the answer," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

While I believe it is a tragedy that must end, I see no point in sending ANY form of military assistance to Syria. If the region wants to show it's ready to play like adults with the rest of the world, let the Arab league handle it. Let those nations accept refugees or send peace keeping troops. America needs to stay out. Remember your Patton... “It seems to me a certainty that the fatalistic teachings of Mohammed and the utter degradation of the Arab women are the outstanding causes for the arrested development of the Arab. He is exactly as he was around the year 700, while we have been developing.” These Arabs need to learn that they can't have their hummus and eat it too. They denounce us today and tomorrow want assistance. NO. Not this time. We cannot get suckered into another war by proxy like we did in Libya, where we remove one evil tyrant just to seat something far worse.

We keep prying in the Middle East and we're going to open Pandora's box. We have no idea where the toppling of these governments will lead. One thing for sure.... it will not lead to good old USA "democracy".

No, that is not true. Iraq is not experiencing any more violence now than it was before the end of the occupation. They are governing themselves. What makes you think this is not working? You there now?

"No we will put Al Qaeda in charge like we did in Libya."
There's a really good chance that we have put al-Qaeda in charge in Iraq. If not al-Qaeda, Iran. They are in ways opposites but both bad for stability in that area.

February 8, 2012 at 12:54 am |

Huh?

Perhaps you should check again...please tell us all why it is not working. Thanks.

Bombard Assad til he ends up sunny side up!! Enough of this manslaughter, I know we are not the world police but no one deserves this!! We are the U.S.A when no one helps...We Do! We are the bigger country we have a military for a reason! Hoo-ah!

Dir for nothing? Sheesh must not be American man.if you are get yourself checked out and see who keeps you safe and free

February 8, 2012 at 1:06 am |

Lord Haw Haw

michael; what the fuck is 'dir'?

If you think it's worth.....dieing.....for. Be my guest.

February 8, 2012 at 1:22 am |

Huh?

Hey Lord Haw Haw...I've had just about enough of your ridiculous banter, you coward. Time for you to go back in your mom's basement...you can come out when I tell you to come out, you piece of garbage.

February 8, 2012 at 1:08 pm |

ThinkPlease

I've seen no comments which covered this topic: If this conflict was going on in the US, do you think our military would just go ahead and attack it's own citizens? I don't mean the "military structure", but the individual sons and brothers that make up the military. There is obviously something wrong with this situation when the men of the military have no problem with putting a bullet in a fellow citizen's skull. It's indicative of deep cultural problems. If tomorrow Assad mysteriously disappeared and the regime collapsed, do you think everything would be all clear? You'd still have murderous monsters with guns who are ok with dismembering their own people. And if *poof* all of the military people were gone, do you think that everything would be ok? So instead, would we appoint the fathers who raised these monsters, or their spawn? Or maybe daughters? Ooops, seems we forgot a small detail about Islam..

In civilized societies, people have a vague idea of right and wrong at least, but I find it hard to believe that in-mass any European or American army would march through the streets and blow away their own people. The people that we're crying out for are the same ones that dance in the street when bombs blow up to kill infidels. The same people and culture that electrocutes it daughters with car batteries because she had sex before marriage.

Until these people can move into the modern age, they're going to be the civilized world's enemy no matter who's in charge. They will replace a dictator with a dictator, or better yet, total chaos as in Libya, or just a junta-style government like in Egypt. Arm or fund them in an attempt to help them, and they will turn the gun on us down the road. Aide them and the others will scream Jihad.

Get off of your pompous horse...you really don't know what you're talking about. (1) Our soldiers shot students protesting a war. (2) American civilians lynched people who didn't look like them. (3) Our police have shot innocent people. (4) I'll bet you a dollar there'd be no protest from a southern klansman "soldier" to forcibly quell the Occupy protests...

U r confused, it's not the army that kills the people in Syria, it's the "Security Forces", that's why army soldier are defecting .. when they can. Very often the soldiers are sent into town to kill people knowing that if they don't, their families will be killed by the Security Forces, which are nothing but a band of criminals who works directly for Assad.
Very often they defect anyway and die by doing so and their family dies with them ,, very often it's the family that tells the soldier to defect even if that means dying.

The only way ti stop this is to do what has been done in Libya ... unfortunately the bastards from whom we buy our underwear because we are too lazy to manufacture them ourselves, are communists and don't like democracy so they veto at the UN. That's after what happened for Libya ... Russia and China govs though the UN resolution against Libya was a joke .. then Obama said . now we show them who we really are, so now they no longer fall for the UN ploy and straight take side for the killing of innocents.
After all .. we all saw what the China gov did in Tienanmen Square and the rest of the city to its own people.

i think that who live in the past is you, i don,t know from where you get your information about our land and people but i know just one thing ,if i saw a criminal in USA and said that all people in USA are like his man and that is the culture of USA i will be 100% on the wrong side and that is not the right way for thinking ;i am not ask you to change your way of thinking i am ask you to stop posting such racist comments and don,t say by every conflict go to history ; and i am sure that the people in syria will overcome this regime which is one of the badest regimes in the world; and without your help and the revolution of syrian people will overcome Russia iran and Israel and all Assad supporters without your Help.

I was 100% behind you until I saw the comment about Israel. Are you trying to tell me Israel supports Syria's regime? Are you out of your mind. Israel hates Assad. You almost had me until you brought that "Anti-Zionist" bull shit into the post.

February 8, 2012 at 1:21 am |

alex smith

There is a lot of truth in your post, but I do not believe all of the Syrians do things such as electrocute their daughters for having sex before marriage. To the guy who said "security forces" not the soldiers, please don't be so ignorant. You see videos all the time of soldiers setting up roadblocks, attacking foreign broadcasters, etc. It is very ironic that these same people did indeed cheer when the twin towers fell on 9/11 and now the Syrians are happy the Americans back them towards democracy. Funny... I wonder if they would do the same if they were in our position. By our I mean the Americans.

Just to know, Assad is bringing in Iranian revolutionary guard forces to buffer his own forces. Also, the security forces that surround Assad are made-up of Alawites, like himself, and those who are loyal to his family and his government. Many Syrian soldiers have defected, numbering in the thousands, rather than fire on their own people who are primarily Sunni. Assad is attacking primarily Sunni neighborhoods, which may lead to an all out civil war, although there are some Alawites who are also not supporting Assad. The picture on the ground is more complex and doesn't lend itself to racist rants about Syrians or Arabs I'm afraid. Most Arabs live in major cities like Cairo, Beirut, Amman, Damascus, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha, etc. and are incredibly modern and technologically savvy. In ten to twenty years the Arabs with their large educated and youthful populations will probably be leaving the U.S. and Europe with its aging populations in the dust!

February 8, 2012 at 1:11 am |

The Phantom

"I've seen no comments which covered this topic: If this conflict was going on in the US, do you think our military would just go ahead and attack it's own citizens? I don't mean the "military structure", but the individual sons and brothers that make up the military. There is obviously something wrong with this situation when the men of the military have no problem with putting a bullet in a fellow citizen's skull. "

We did just that! It was called the Civil War. One of the bloodiest wars, ever. We aren't innocents.

I knew this was going to happen the minute the Syrian army started killing it's own people. The U.S. is bound to go in and We're going to war with Iran soon too. I predicted the war with Iran but i thought it would be way sooner than 2012. I figured after Iraq invasion in 2003 Iran was next. It's all history repeating it's self. I don't care anymore. If the U.S. goes in big freakin' deal.

Stop comparing Syria and Libya or Egypt. You just changed a few dictators for military juntas in power. No democracy will take place in this region if it doesn't please the US. Does anybody see a Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt? Thank you.

We should take out assad as a F U to China and Russia. They want to let people die so they can sell arms and because they would do the same to any uprising. This would be three birds with one stone, hurt syria, hurt china, and hurt russia. DO IT!! Russia is Syrias largest importer of weapons and china is the third.

HAHA! No we are NOT just waiting to plan and go in and bomb. Quite frankly most of "US" are sick and tired of being sent all over the world as the "world police" for these SH*@ holes that don't even care for themselves and have been fighting and killing each other since the beginning of time. So IF it turns out the "WE" are sent in there to deal with this crap, DO NOT blame the US Military, blame this worthless administration for getting us involved in something that we should not be! We have enough issues here in our country and should be helping our own FIRST!

I for one think the draft should be re instated, too many young men throwing their life away with drugs and worthless things, plus with obesity going up , why not ..although the military is a calling not a job..proud airmen..hoo-ah

February 8, 2012 at 12:11 am |

Americanand Arabs

The Arab nations use America's might to help dispose of dictators they cannot, but then scorn America afterward. Why would the American people want to join in? Yes, what is happening is Syria is horrible and despicable, but calling for America to come save them without support afterward is insanity on the part of America. Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. becomes a stench in the nostrils of the American people. The Arab nations only want to use America then discard it as a friend. What do you really want?

Looking at he video that Assad did in this tells you he is very insane and does not know what he is talking about using words like some force came to over trough his regime this his tactic to be ignorant of the situation. By confusing people with words of lies. I dont know which planet he came from ? if i was him i will start doing his prayers for God to space his soul .

Not making fun or anything of that nature I promise....but it seems to me that you are letting this bit of news exacerbate what you already perceive as a hopeless, and bleak situation, I can only assure you that's not the case, things are a lot better than we think.

Hey Rony,
its ok, the opposition in america (the tea party) is already armed! (for its NRA/gun support), but they're not shooting b/c we still are a free country. Russia and Syria are both dictatorships. No, i'm not making an error by calling Russia's pseudodemocracy a dictatorship, putin has defrauded their elections and clings on power either in the front scenes or behind them. America needs to do something and do something fast. This is a humanitarian mission, on the likes of Kosovo. If we swore to never let the holocaust happen again, then we do something for syria and do something soon!

so, should we Invade Russia then and arm the opposition, right? I am Russian and i know that 80% of population supports current Russian government. So you wanna arm another 20%, so they could start making mess. You see where its going, you dont know real facts, you just see some bloody images on TV, some headlines and you make inaccurate conclusions.

February 7, 2012 at 11:40 pm |

Jerry

How dare people use the word "Holocaust" for any of these "Arab Spring" situations! These are NOT governments trying to systematically murder an entire race of people with concentration camps, gas chambers, and crematory ovens; it is dictatorial governments bluntly and blindly wielding military might against unarmed civilians and armed traitors in an effort to remain in power. It may be despicable but the Holocaust was on a whole other level. Even if Assad used his military to kill every man, woman, and child in Syria who wasn't in his military or amongst his cronies, it STILL wouldn't come close to being a "Holocaust", (there's still plenty o' other Arabs around). What the Nazis did to the Jews & the Romany, what the Turks did to the Armenians, THOSE are deserving of the word. Each time some idiot uses that word to describe a group or government indiscriminately killing a few thousand, (or a few tens of thousands,) of people they cheapen the lives & deaths of the millions shot, gassed, worked to death, or hacked/stabbed to death by the Nazis and the Turks.

And don't even bring up Kosovo: armed terrorist groups, criminals, and foreign agitators took up arms against their government and that government tried to put down the rebellion. We were on the wrong side of that one, all the way. Yes, civilians were killed. How many civilians did Sherman's men kill on his march to the sea? How many did we fry in Dresden, in Tokyo? Hiroshima? Nagasaki? And WE'RE the "Good Guys"!?!

Keep us out of it. If we won't do anything to China for what it does in Tibet and East Turkestan, what business have we got in Syria? We can't afford a big war: well, we've had enough of the small wars, too. Spend my flippin' tax dollars fixing some of the damn roads and sewers here instead of on million-dollar missiles we'll fire off by the hundreds and billions of dollars, (and thousands of American lives,) spent (re: wasted!) rebuilding what we blew-up for people who are always gonna hate us no matter what we do 'cause their religion brainwashes them to from birth. If it's in America's best interests to blow 'em up then blow 'em up and let 'em pick up the pieces themselves. Syria has nothin' we need. If we DO help overthrow the Assad government there and waste millions or billions of tax dollars helpin' 'em recover they'll, more likely than not, just end up with another Islamist government to rattle sabres against us and Israel and cost us even more billions of $ tryin' to help Israel defend against them. Screw 'em! Let 'em sort it out themselves!

February 8, 2012 at 1:04 am |

Dave in Portland

Jerry – Well said, thank you. I wish more people saw things as clearly. All I see most of the time is people just shooting off their mouths with no regard for anything but themselves.

It is easy to call for military action when you have never served. It is easy to hate all Middle eastern people if you have never known one. It is easy to preach violence and hate when you are safe and secure and in no danger yourself.

February 8, 2012 at 1:30 pm |

Dragon

McCain is a retard! Supply the opposition with weapons!?!? *shakes head* What the hell is he thinking!?!? Thank the gods he was NOT elected President! Not that the guy currently in office is any good but at least he is not thinking of crazy crap like that!!

i truly understand those of you, who are asking for no war. It's not america's problem to attack and remove assad's regime. but i want all of you to sit for a second and understand what is really happening down there now.

First, thousands of people are dying daily by this regime, so from a human perspective, every powerful country ( america) is obligated to step in and help people.

second, Russia is being struggling for the last couple of decades trying to be recognized again as a world leader, and they find this as their chance to prove to the world that they are up their.

third and most importantly, if Assad gains power again, then nothing will stop them ( Iran, hizbollah, and syria) from destroying the whole middle east, including anything valuable to the US, that means their Military bases, Oil, and Sea acess.

Now does USA really want that, of course not. and for the above reasons i am pretty sure america will do anything to stay in power down their.

The Arab nations use America's might to help dispose of dictators they cannot, but then scorn America afterward. Why would the American people want to join in? Yes, what is happening is Syria is horrible and despicable, but calling for America to come save them without support afterward is insanity on the part of America. Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. becomes a stench in the nostrils of the American people. The Arab nations only want to use America then discard it as a friend.

1. 1000;s of Syrians are dying every day. Most estimate state 5400 Syrians have been killed since the uprising began 9 months ago. In the US Revolutionary War there were 50,000 dead.
2. Russia really no longer has the ability to project power. Their army is in disarray. Their navy is in decay. They could exert air power but would likely be shut down by US air power.
3. Assad may regain power but he will be powerless. The US will impose economic sanctions so deep and strong similar to those on Iran that not only punishesSyria but anyone trading with Syria (Russia and China).

Best course of action is cyberwarfare to disrupt communications, satellite intelligence on troop movements and locations, arms shipments (although difficult to get them through) and tough sanctions on Russia in particular as the main military supplier to Syria. Other than that... lead from behind.

Actually Russia has been rebuilding their forces since the collapse of the USSR. They are now much better equipped. Thing is the US can't afford this. It's bad enough we might go to war with Iran. The UN is better off handling this.

February 8, 2012 at 12:25 am |

af090391

Yeah, thousands of rebels may be dying, but we don't even know if the majority of the population actually supports them. We may go walking in to change a government that the majority population doesn't even want. Know what that sounds like? Vietnam.

95% of the Vietnamese supported communism and we fought against them in the name of "Democracy".Bottom line, People are gonna die in any revolt, but it is no where close to our job to intervene.

syria is not vietnam, sunni muslim represent 90% of the population, and they have been under oppression since assad's dad took over late 1960's.

Assad's regime used terror for the past 40 years to control people, while preventing them from getting proper education, improve economy, build good and open relationship with the west to build a bridge of knowledge and exchange talent instead of hate.

it's sad to see how american people look at middle eastern citizens. but i don't blame them, because same view is shared down in the middle east towards americans. the only way out of this, is for american politicians to finish what they started in libya. get in help, and get out. in return they exchange benefits of building friendship with middle east, and start a long term relationship build on trust and economical benefits.

Yeah, horrible things are being done. You bother paying attention to the horrible things WE do? The oppressive regimes WE support? Anyone pay attention to the weapons deal Obama signed with Bahrain? That would be the same Bahrain that crushed it's own protest movement in the not too distant past...that we totally ignored. Or do you Obamaites really believe EVERY SINGLE PROTESTOR was an "Iranian agent?" When Bush was in the WH, you would've called that claim the BS it is. How about the Saudis, who we prop up? Yeah, real examples of peace and democracy and progress. Hell, we were more than happy to supply and arm Saddam Hussein. And then he used biological and chemical weapons on Iran and on his own people. Real sweetie, right? Remember the School of the Americas? Where we taught countless officers from central and south America to better torture and oppress their own people? The United States, regardless of who is in the White House, has always been perfectly willing to arm, train and support bloodthirsty regimes...as long as they protect our interests, whether that was 'anti-communism,' oil, or whatever.

For eight years liberals told us 'fighting for peace was like ####ing for virginity.' Forget your own advice so quickly? Is it horrible what's going on? YES! Of course it is! And horrible things are going on all over the damned world, often as a result of the flawed policies of the great powers–both east and west. Are we going to invade half the known world? Stay out. STAY OUT! Wars are horrible, nasty things. If you're going to engage in one, pick a damned pragmatic reason, not out of some misguided idealism. You remember our lovely military intervention in Somalia? Yeah, that ended with our young men being mutilated and dragged through the streets of Mogadishu on meat hooks. Let people solve their own problems without us creating more.

Hey,
do u remember the holocaust? america stayed out for as much as they could, and over 5 million people were massacred. we promised to never let that happen again. america stayed out of rwanda, and look what happened there, massacres.

don't be so stupid as to assume that syria = somalia. Somalia has thousands of divisions and had brutal war lords battling each other for power after the overthrow of the dictator, whose overthrow the AMERICANS supported. i.e., we helped create somalia's mess.

now we weren't involved in creating Syria's problem, but we should get involved in creating Syria's solution, in coordination w/ other Arab-Islamic communities. Don't think we've already failed w/ libya, i've met countless libyans who are thankful for US intervention, as many ethnic albanians and kosovars are today thankful of US intervention. Just b/c the US intervenes doesn't always mean we lose.

Can you imagine how much the US has done for Israel? Syria today and tomorrow Iran. It will never stop because of the ambitions of Israel to control the region. This is going to end badly. Now I am starting to believe that the world is in danger because of the Jews/Israelis. In the past they try control Germany and the rest of Europe and ended badly, now the whole world will pay the prize.

The US posture toward Syria has everything to do with the Zionist enterprise. Syria is an enemy of Israel and therefore must be an enemy of the United States. Plus Syria is an ally of Iran which makes it doublely a target for Uncle Sam, although there is no way either Iran or Syria in any way threaten the US. Our politicians have been purchased by Israel's friends here and put Israel's interests ahead of American interests. The fall of the Assad regime will likely bring an Islamic gov't to power which will in no way favor Syria's large Christian minority, but our Solons care nothing about that.

You are amazingly ignorant...... Lets try to thing a little bit . who is creating all ofthe world problems . First Irak . Saddam did not understand now he ei dead..... Tunez same story..... Egypt same story with mubarak.... Libia the piece of shit of gdaffi is dead..... the retard of syria assad is next and then the carzymother fucker of Iran..... If your brain works a little bit you can think ???? who is the problem of dictators ..... who says they are all brothers buy they end killing each other . .... people are meant to be the same but arabs / muslims are the real issue now.... how many nobel prizes you can recall from the muslims.... you have billions of muslims in the world and they have less than 5 nobel prozes . Jewish people ..... 12 million world wide . numeber of nobel prizes???? in xs of 200........ You must be a red neck with the IQ of a sardin......keep eating pizza and hammburgers all day.....

It would be a big secret if the DoD didn't have a plan. Maybe these off the record comments are really part of an elaborate deception plan to cover up that up. Otherwise the DoD is just doing their job, you know, military planning.

The defense of humanity is never war mongering. It is respecting our fellow man enough to say that we will not abide mass murder. Believe in humanity and you will be rewarded. Quiver in the face of evil and you are either weak or evil – make a choice.

Then you go and sacrifice your life. Don't use your power to sit back and sit someone else. Our soldiers signed up to fight for America, not everyone else.

February 7, 2012 at 11:19 pm |

furhan

i agree. the first step should be arming syria's opposition in coordination w/ Turkey and the rest of the arab league. Syria is a very dangerous state under assad and it will only get worse. change needs to happen there. if all u "don't get involved" people are so morally correct, then don't feel sorry for the Jews during their holocaust. u are the same people that were probably whispering in Roosevelt's ear "don't get involved, its a european problem. Massacre schmassacre, murder happens and we just gotta live w/ it....no need to involve our troops in that battle"

u people are callous and display utmost cowardice. this is unamerican and unchristian to not do something about this. America has the means (even use drones if u don't wanna risk life) and the capability, yet sitting and just watching is too cringeworthy and embarassing. I expected better from our fellow americans, and we musn't sit idly during this serious time...

February 7, 2012 at 11:43 pm |

davethebutcher

Russia and China are with the Arab League. They want Assad in power. Russia has already stated that any attack on Syria or Iran will be an attack against Russia and they will defend. So, do we sit back and let these people get slaughtered (like we did at the beginning of WW2)? Or do we go in and help, knowing this will result in the beginning of a non-nuclear WW3.

I stopped after reading the first paragraph. I'm tired of fantasy. If the US attacks Syria, Russia will attack the US. end of the world. End of story. The military is NOT considering military options, despite what you read on CNN.

Maybe I missed the last 20 years of world history but the U.S. has invaded Iraq twice and Russia responding by attacking the U.S. how many times? Zero. Just because Russia sells a country military supplies doesn't mean they have a mutual defense pact. Russia needs to get in a no-win military situation in Syria? Russia already has plenty of internal troubles with Islamic groups within Russia itself.

Give the Arab League a boot in the as$ to do something about it, it's their backyard.....if we have to, lob some bombs at Assads palace if we have to, but that's it.....then its up to the Syrian people

You guys are assholes. I agree that we shouldn't get involved militarily but to say that we shouldn't do anything and let all these people die is crazy. We should pressure the Arab League to intervene in Syria, this has gone on for far too long.

Nobody supported the Iraq War and I'm not talking about that, Innocent people are getting killed and nobody is doing anything.

February 7, 2012 at 11:09 pm |

CelestialOne

Conservative means that the numbers could be much higher like over half a million or more.

February 7, 2012 at 11:19 pm |

CelestialOne

Based on "Iraq Family Health Survey" published in the New England Journal of Medicine which surveyed 9,345 households across Iraq and estimated 151,000 deaths from March 2003 to June 2006. Lancet survey on the other hand concluded that there was 601,027 violent deaths out of 654,965 excess deaths from March 2003 to June 2006 but I think this number maybe too high. Search Wiki on Casualties of the Iraqi War.

February 7, 2012 at 11:33 pm |

Schnydz

Hmm, yes. And how about those mass graves of Iraqi civilians dug up after Saddam fell from power? I guess those numbers don't comply with your Liberal talking points.

February 9, 2012 at 11:14 am |

Jamie

Seeing as Assad has been pretty much thumbing his nose at the Arab League, how about all the oil rich countries foot the bill for any American/Western military intervention or better still send their own forces in. It's way past due for other countries to be stepping up to the plate, especially ones from that region.

Just because they have a government that sponsors terrorist activities doesn't mean all the citizens are also terrorists – clearly they too are being brutalized and the kids especially don't deserve that. The West intervened in Bosnia and Kosovo.

February 7, 2012 at 11:00 pm |

James

That's right if Obama should leave our soldiers from the war it will be hard for the Iran and other countries ....

I truly wish CNN obtains IP numbers of everyone commenting in these forums and publishing their geographical location. This way we will know how many of those pretending to be redneck Texans are actualy in Syria. Stupid geese.

There is a whole bunch of Syrian cyber warriors, here and elsewhere. For these most Alawi's, it is a matter of kill or be killed. And Assad is an idiot who dug grave for not just Alawi's but Syrian christians as well, when he thought that he could win in a sectarian civil war. This is not Lebanon, it will not take 15 years, instead it will be done in just about 1 more year, but in the end, the Alawi's and Syrian christians will suffer the most and its because they supported and believed in this idiot Assad and the people calling the shots behind the scenes, the puppet masters of the puppet called Assad, the smiling butcher in pin stripe suits.

Drats these kind of articles sure do bring out the freak show. Stay out of it, unless the U.S gives a full go, this is going to be a snake pit and we're no longer equipped for it.

Besides, Americans have spent nearly 20 yrs doing little more than killing civilians and up to moderately armed Iraqi forces, in outdated equipment, and light armed rebels – and it STILL took a decade. Against a much larger, better equipped and trained Syria – with Russian and Chinese backing? not a chance.

Agreed. No money no funny. Secondly, getting involved with Russia / China could lead to a nuclear exchange, and there are no winners in such a scenario. In fact, more innocents will die than just the ones in Syria. You would have to be a murderous psychopath with no empathy of any kind to put so many innocent people worldwide at risk, the greater good here is not going to be achieved by military confrontation. Just the facts.

This is absurd! Should we strain our relationship with Russia and China for the sake of the Syrians? Let them kill each other, it's not our country and none of our business. If we interfere in Syria's internal affairs and overthrow Assad, the Moslem Brotherhood is sure to move into the vacuum, and they are our mortal enemies. No, let Assad crush the rebels and hold on to power – better the devil we know than the one we don't. The so-called "democracy" movements in the Arab world are covers for the most extreme Islamic elements to come in and seize power. Haven't we learned anything from the "democracies" in Egypt and Libya? The Arabs are incapable of democracy, a Western institution, they will only replace their current despotism with a new one, this time ruled by religious extremists. Hands off Syria!

I see. Just last month, wasn't everyone griping about how much the military is overpaid, blah, blah, blah? It's funny. When you actually think you NEED them, you're on your knees. Typical liberal double-standard.

So when your house is the target of a home invasion you want your neighbors to just stand on their lawns and watch. Is that right? Well fortunately for your family if that day ever comes your neighbors have demonstrated that America has a bit more character than that.

The most that Obama can do is bark with rhetoric sentiments and convoluted threats. Syria is now in a long-term civil war, especially that the protesters are all heavily armed. Any military invasion will blow up the whole Middle East arena amid the presence of Hezbollah and Iran, and of course, Israel will be targeted from various angles in the region as a means to stop foreign aggression. Think more than twice, Mr. President!

It is easy to call for military action when you have never served. It is easy to hate all Middle eastern people if you have never known one. It is easy to preach violence and hate when you are safe and secure and in no danger yourself.

We have a slight problem with this. Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the occupation of Afghanistan, the Army has gone through some rather radical organizational changes. The intention of those organizational changes was to restructure the Army so that it could better serve in an occupational role and combat an enemy that was largely lightly armed paramilitary forces. In doing so, the Army considerably reduced their ability to fight conventional heavy ground forces based on armor and mechanized infantry formations supported by high quality and well coordinated air defense assets...armies like the ones possessed by countries like the PRC, North Korea and Syria.

While the US would certainly win a conventional ground war against Syria, this is no longer the Army that was expressly designed to face Soviet-style formations such as the ones Iraq used in the Gulf War, and even then our logistical train was SEVERELY stretched because of unexpectedly high munitions expenditures. A war against Syria will be far more costly in terms of expense and lives than the war against Iraq was simply because W's administration rebuilt the Army not expecting to (or not wanting to) fight conventionally armed and armored forces and the current Army structure is not going to do it well.

W allegedly strengthened militarily us against the terrorists but in doing so gravely weakened us against the Communists and other conventionally armed forces. This is going to have a very long term negative effect on our military deterrent.

Well-said, and well-thought-out, but you have a cold war military mentality. We are not going to get involved in a major land war of infantry/artillery/armor vs. infantry/artillery/armor. Technology, strategy, and warfare have changed. So has the world.

Calvert, that's bull$hit. Our airplanes can still attack, our Bradley, M-1 Abrams, and Strykers can still move and shoot and our helicopters can still find, fix, and destroy. Just b/c we've been fighting insurgents for the last 10 years doesn't mean we can't do our real job. Even though the army is "tired" it is more than well equiped to fight these chumps if we have to. They're probably not even going to fight us force on force which we would easily win. They'll probably use a play from the Iraqi playbook, engage us w/IEDs, and blend in w/the locals but that's what MRAPs are for and most of them are in that part of the world already. We already know how to operate in this neighborhood b/c we've been in it for the last 10 years..

Mark, Calvert is not disputing that our troops are no longer well trained or equipped, he's simply saying that our organization has changed. Unless I miss my mark, the US Army began to change the organizational structure from the traditional division format to the brigade. Furthermore, we HAVE been fighting essentially paramilitary forces for the last 10 years, it has hardly been conventional warfare. I think Calvert made some good points, but I respect your opinion

That being said, it is nice to see a post that does not deteriorate into useless bickering.

February 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm |

LetsGetOneThingStraight

It was an airplane strike that delivered Khadafi to the rebels. The coward got a taste of the same medicine he was inflicting on unarmed people.
It will be a pleasure to see the coward thugs of Syria getting a taste of the same medicine they deliver to the BRAVE MEN OF HOMS.

The only problem is, we only acted, based upon half of the story, and we ultimately ended up giving Libya to al-Qaeda. Brainlessly rushing in has embarrassed us once, already. I know Obama is itching for better ratings, but we need to do this smartly...for once.

LGOTS – It is easy to call for military action when you have never served. It is easy to hate all Middle eastern people if you have never known one. It is easy to preach violence and hate when you are safe and secure and in no danger yourself.

Heh, CNN, put a computer on line with these blogs and filter out everyone who can't express themselves without using four letter words and racial slurs! It's a computer, you don't need to pay it extra.

As to the article, sure the pentagon is investigating options, they have options to invade every country on the earth, up to and including Bermuda. It's what they do. Get back to us when there is shred of evidence the gov't is even going to think about discussing these pipe dreams as valid options, then I'll vote out whatever hair brain is thinking of getting us into another mid east war likely to just put extremists in charge of yet another country, after they shoot every moderate who opposes them. Before we spend a penny on another war, the UN better unanamiously vote that they want the US to stick our nose in and save some downtrodden masses from some blood thirsty minority willing to do anything to stay in power. Also, someone else takes the lead and the offical blame, but of course we have sole command of our forces. Either that or pay us. Now that would bankrupt the Euro zone, actually paying for their defense!

Here we go again.......In the US Army they say "Bohica." (bend over here it comes again !!!). Why not let our so called hot-shot regional allly, the israelis, earn their $$$$ billions in US aid, by doing something for a change, and set things straight over there (?)

Do the Syrian people know, if anyone steps in with military action..many innocents will die in the process (bombs missing marks, mistakes in general) If you agree and understand that..sign on the dotted line.

Can't we sell arms to the "Anyone but Assad" group? Then we could make money there, like the Russians and Chinese.

At some point the Chinese and Russians are going to see the writing on the wall, knowing that Assad is gonna be ousted and put down. Their days of profiteering on the blood of the Syrian citizens are therefore numbered.

Lord Hawhaw – Either grow up or crawl back under your rock. I think we're all getting sick of the profanity-laden immature verbal diarrhea spewing from your mouth.

February 8, 2012 at 1:57 pm |

kt

I'm sure Obama has some new toys he's just wanting to try out... Regardless, we are the US of A and the world expects us to take the lead. We are the leaders of the free world and I would expect us to fight and defend people when there's another bully in the mid-east neighborhood that needs to be reemed a good one because he has no conscience about killing women, children, and innocent people.

Shame on these middle eastern idiots. Haven't they learned any lessons by watching what has happened to their neighbors.

I am an independent and think we do need to mind our own business and we do on the grand scale but these idiots seem to make a spectacle of themselves and they need to be taught to play nice.....

C O V E R T A C T I O N. The Syrian People are bleeding in the streets until their last breath. How can the world tolerate another M O N S T E R T Y R A N T that S T A L I N I Z E S his very own?...M U R D E R E R !!!!!!!!!

Well the Arab league wont stop this guy, so everyone else who would potentially intervene wont risk more anti-western sentiment. Enjoy watching the syrians die in the streets, maybe one day you will realize the west doesnt want to hurt you all the time.

Jabbawocky – Exactly. Why should it always be us that steps up to the plate? They have an Arab League for a reason. That region is their responsibility. Every time we involve ourselves, we get slammed for it. It's someone else's turn to put down the neighborhood bully.

February 8, 2012 at 2:00 pm |

uhadit

An advice to the Nigger American President KEEP OUT this time SYRIA is not alone RUSSIA & CHINA are supporting SYRIA, otherwise this times your coward christian crusaders want have the oppurtunity even to come back home defeated like they had in Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq Take Care, all of them will turn up back home in bodybags

Hmmm.....someone sounds a little scared. We don't need troops on the ground to help the Syrians. Just a couple of switches and buttons and no more Assad air force, command and control, tanks...all gone. Then the opposition will least have a chance. Watch Iran your next.

It's so funny reading your silliness and it’s pretty clear you have no depth or understanding of world events, at least you write English OK and your comprehension seems OK for an eighth grader, all in all not bad. Yes Russia and China do support Syria yet even they see what stands before them with that support and the support of Iran. China is moving away from Iran and getting its oil from other places and Russia is going to “help” Assad find another place to live…
Both know they are not strong enough to take on the US even together let alone with NATO with us and Hezbollah with you and your morons; hopefully Hezbollah would fight to the death and Israel would love to take them out…
Bottom line is nobody but you perhaps wants to see that kind of destruction since it would be horrific for you and your family but if you don’t care about you and yours why should we, right?
As far as the Christian thing goes I do wonder if you people will ever get out of the 12th century. You and your people are stunted and your development is arrested. As far as the coward thing goes, well the facts speak for themselves don’t they? Truth is you would never want to face our military since it is unlikely you would survive as many of your jihadists have discovered, right? You need to grow up, accept responsibility and stop abusing your women and show the world that you are not stupid savages; frankly, I just don’t think you have what it takes to grow and become men. You will always be children requiring adult supervision for hundreds perhaps even thousands of years…
As far as the nigger thing goes we have a saying “you are the pot calling the kettle black’ aren’t you? Everyone knows it or you wouldn’t be talking the way you are now would you?

Best Option: Stay the hell out of the fight. If it is bad enough for the USA to be in it then it is bad enough for the Arab Leage to take care of their own and do the fighting. The USA has all ready mucked up the Mideast. The USA is broke and cannot afford to get into yet another "police action" governed by political idiots that are not trained to win a war but only spend money making the USA look like idiots.

Here's a simple solution: Instead of giving Israel 4 billion a year, take a portion of that money and give it to the Free Syrian Army in order that they may have weapons to defend themselves. This reallocation of money would benefit the US, Syria, and Israel in both the short term and the long term.

I agree, mind out own business and watch the Israeli's steam role these guys. Imma sit back and have some popcorn. It would be quite the show. Its amazing what a country can do when not restrained by all these liberals. Yes the military feels sorry for the Syrians, but we cant afford it. I guess thats we we are giving 200K soldiers and sailors the pink slip in the next 2-5 years.

February 7, 2012 at 9:46 pm |

David Clayton

How many civilians does it take to die before you cowards grow a backbone. I seem to remember a lot of countries fighting in Afghanistan right now besides the United States, but I only remember Al Qaeda attacking the U.S. on 9/11. Im sorry saving thousands of lives will cost you that new big screen tv. Im sorry saving thousands of lives makes your life some how a little uncomfortable. For the pass 10 years I was asked to protect Iraqi and Afghan Civilians from insurgents that wanted to harm them. If asked to protect Syrian Civilians from being killed, I would again answer the call. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

The US Constitution states we're not to engage in conflicts/war unless there is an immediate threat to the US soil. Period. Are we supposed to be the self-appointed 911 to the world? How would you feel if you're fighting in Afghan right now and the Govt announces we're thru fighting next year? wtf?

February 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm |

Jabbawocky

Let evil triumph, we need to spend more on medicare/medicaid, and less on the military...muahhahaha

Here's an option, military. Stay home, save your country by saving money and sitting this one out. If there are other people in the world that see the need to jump in on this one and help out, then it will all work out ok. If we are the only ones who care, it's never going to work out anyway. Good luck Syria, I cheer for your people. But it's up to you to work it out on your own.

I agree. The U.S. military should not intervene at all. Let every last Syrian die. The liberals want to bash veterans, troops, etc.; so U.S. military stay out and watch what happens. Then after a couple thousand more civlians die, maybe the Arab League can give the UN sponsorship for peacekeepers, no US included. I dislike all the liberals who have bashed the US military soldiers and have no issue watching Syrians die as a result. Liberals you deserve this all of it and more. People protest at soldiers funerals, when they should direct their attention to politicians. Sorry some people need to occupy a job.

The President makes it clear that he won't even send weapons to Syria, much less troops, and posters here are criticizing the invasion and its cost. Where were you when Bush 43 invaded Iraq on completely bogus grounds?

This is just a beginning of the game. Here how it will all end:
Obama in 30 days – "As you could see we did all we could to keep the peace. I did not want the war, but no other options we have now".
By the way – how about Greece? – don't we have to send tanks there too? oh wait – they don't have oil... never mind

This is just a beginning of the game. Here how it will all end:
Obam a in 30 days – "As you could see we did all we could to keep the peace. I did not want the w a r, but no other options we have now".
By the way – how about Greece? – don't we have to send tanks there too? oh wait – they don't have oil... never mind

What no one is saying and I believe is involved is that many of the military people that are involved in the killing of Syrian civilians so ruthlessly are actually Iranian soldiers sent by Iran to assist in suppressing the Syrian people. It would fit into what is going on there.

Nice comment and I wonder why there aren't responses to it. I believe targeted instability helps Iran, which they can then "fix" to their advantage. This strategy has proven effective with de facto Iranian control of lots of territory. I see parallels to Czechoslovakia '68 and Hungary '56, where Soviet 'help' caused a lot of death. Have you read The Devil We Know by Robert Baer?

First, this isn't WW 2, Second, we slaughtered thousands during that war, and in every war since. Saving innocent human life is not what war is good at. And leadership is about alot of things, not just jumping into every war that comes by. So yes, I get it. And you don't.

I am sick and tired listening to Hilary Clintons double standard and propaganda that her Bill invented.
"On Kosovo: 400,000 refugees, like it was not convincing enough raised the score to 1 milion, 200,000 killed, 50,000 rapes.In Bosnia 100 thousand rapes, concentration camps, 200,000 killed. Iraq and Iran building atom bombs, they want
to destroy Israel, Libya in similar fashion bombing and destroying Cities while they bomb them to hell"
Enough you war mongers, come down to your senses and stop interfering in affairs of sovereign states, stop medling
in their afairs, supplying and arming terorist that comes back to your country to hunt you and you canot see that.

If you go to war against Syria the may not be anymore elections period. Russia and China are going to alied with them, you are broke and might end up speaking chinese. Leave them fight it out. let the arabs look after themselves. Oh unless you want to steal their oil too 🙂

If you go to war against Syria there may not be anymore elections period. Russia and China are going to alied with them, you are broke and might end up speaking chinese. Leave them fight it out. let the arabs look after themselves. Oh unless you want to steal their oil too 🙂

Hey Lord Haw Haw (or Lord Suck me Off, as most of your friends call you) why don't you get off your mom and dads computer before they come home and send you straight to bed with a spanking for even being on it. And not doing your school work. I wish I could run into your little twink ass, I would kick your ass up and down your block, then as you lie their crying and whimpering like the little bitch that you are, I would kick it about an hour more, just to pound some sense into your stupid fucking head....Every single night you can hear your mother yelling at your father, cussing him out for never wearing a condom...........

February 8, 2012 at 2:02 am |

Dave in Portland

Rick – Hahahahahahahaha. Thank you. he definitely had that coming.

February 8, 2012 at 2:09 pm |

Kaiser Soze

Let's focus on our own politics before inserting ourselves into another country's. Our own borders aren't even secure and narco-terror is seeping into the southwest. Time to worry about the U.S. only, for once.

Here we go again...The Police Of The World. Does it matter to anyone that we are broke, horribly in debt, and borrowing heavily from China? Has anyone wondered WHO will come to the rescue of the US should someone decide to attack us? Think Iraq will? Afghanistan? Libya? The Syrians? Who will come to the aid of the US? I KNOW the people are having a horrible time, but, you know that every time I see shooting, killing, fires, bodies I also see hordes of people out in the street throwing rocks, bottles and shooting BACK....yes, the government is being heavy handed, but, I am seeing an awful lot of "protestors" pushing the right buttons to create a "situation" too. People, we cannot be The Police Of The World until we can take care of ourselves (The US Citizen Taxpaying Citizens). We do not need to be involved in yet another "conflict" turned war that we can't escape from without burying ourselves, our children, our grandchildren in unimmaginable debt....well, let's say it "break our country so bad we cannot defend ourselves and protect our citizens. We cannot cure the ills of the world. We cannot. For those yelling "Let's go fight", please, just send your paycheck to a homeless family right here in the USA, go pay the hospital bills of someone that does not have medical insurance because they are out of work....grow a heart for the US Citizens, please!

Who? Why would you even mention Iran, Syria or Libya? Our allies are who they have always been – Europe (especially the UK, France, Germany, Poland and Netherands), Australia and South Korea to name a few. We should not take the lead in any intervention but should be prepared to help in proportion to other countries through a NATO or UN peacekeeping mission. I agree that our first obligation is at home but we also are our brother's keeper. We should not intervene other than to help limit the attacks on civilians.

100% correct and don't forget about our own Civil War. The most brutal civil war ever fought. We solved our own problems the hard way. Syria situation is bad but it's not ours to fix. It's time for the middle east neighborhood to solve some of their own problems. Sad but true.

The French, English and Spanish all were involved in the Civil War. Read more.

February 7, 2012 at 9:41 pm |

Kevin

Linda, we have to be careful when adopting an isolationist policy. History has borne out that we'll suffer for it. We did this very thing before the FIRST World War. We ended up going to war anyway. We are poised upon the brink of the Third World War. Because of economic/military foreign policy, something Washington WARNED us against engaging in...along with the creation of party politics, we've put our foot in it already. NATO will either end up going into Syria, The US and Russia will throw guns at them, or they will be left to themselves, Assad wins, and the worldview of the USA is in the crapper even further. Along with this mess, there's Iran. The Israelis aren't waiting much longer. As soon as they jump, we jump. We jump, Russia jumps. Russia jumps, China Jumps. China Jumps, N/S Korea Jump. With the big guys occupied, other countries will get into the fun. We have to tread carefully. I agree our economy's nauseatingly bad. We DO need to bring our industry back here. We DO need to create jobs and feed our own. Our National Security depends upon it. But abandoning foreign policy is folly and serves only to makes us vulnerable to attack.

They are torturing, raping, and killing children. I don't care what the cost is or we take heat for being the world police force. It's been too much for too long, no once should have to suffer like this. Especially not children, not at the hands of their own government.

Why do you always have to get involved in other countries, when you own back yard America is such a God awful mess. Okay so you gong to attack Syria, so why not give the rebels 100 billion dollars for free, we got lots of money to give away!

What is worth fighting for is the mass murdering of men, women and children. Their lifes are just as valuable as my husbands whom is one of those soldiers you speak of. Its not a matter of policing the world. The point is doing what is right. Dont forget our country was also assisted when we called for regime change during the revolutionary war. The french stepped in and aided us in our war. The people of Syria are crying for a regime change it would not be us forcing it upon them.

Some of the people are, some of them aren't. It's not up to us to decide if the current regrime is more oppressive, or the Muslim Brotherhood, who is seeking power. Ever notice how much worse things are after our servicemen go to a country? I appreciate that you believe in what your husband does, but it isn't helping.

February 7, 2012 at 9:44 pm |

keslov

Hey Brittany, which people in Syria? The ones selectively edited for your consumption by whatever controlled news outlet you watch? God, what a mistake this nation made ever allowing women to vote or run for a political office, and you are a prime example.

February 7, 2012 at 10:04 pm |

Lord Haw Haw

Your husband is cannon fodder.

Sorry.

February 8, 2012 at 1:09 am |

labandme

Stay out of it boys. Let the muslims deal with their own idiotic culture. When they've had enough they'll fix it themselves.

We should stay out. If they want to kill each other let them, or how about those of similar religious or ethnic beliefs send their young in to be killed. If they bother us, make 'em glow, until then leave it alone.

More Muslim than America... stop commenting on people's statements and calling them a moron simply because you don't totally agree with what they have to say. The only one who looks like a moron is you quite frankly. Is what is occurring in Syria tragic? Yes, it certainly is. But is what is occurring in our own country also tragic? It sure is. We can't afford to get further involved in international affairs.

February 7, 2012 at 9:55 pm |

keslov

people like you are so brainless that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. You believe everything you see on TV, you have no concept of the real world, and the gene pool would be better off without you. So, if a TV station in china shows video of the American gvt putting down a rebellion, does china have the right to invade the US and dictate internal matters in a sovereign nation?

February 7, 2012 at 9:57 pm |

keslov

BTW- if "killing innocent children" truly motivated American foreign policy, there would have been cruise missile falling on Haifa and Tel-aviv long ago.

February 7, 2012 at 10:00 pm |

Johnny Yuma61

The time for humanitarian bombing draws near
I just wonder if he'll even consult with congress

I think more Russian and Chinese arms into Syria is the answer. Stupid bias CNN trying to make us take the position of the US. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE A REGIME CHANGE ON A SOVEREIGN STATE. Quit funding the terrorist opposition, and the problem will be solved. Fight them Assad, don't ever give control of your control to the US and the gulf states! Thank God to Russia and China!

This is a very complex situation. Obviously, diplomatic solutions have not been working very well. It's not surprising that we are looking at military action as a possible alternative. Of course, you have to look at the drawbacks of something like this. If the U.S. were to attack the government of Syria, it's almost a certainty that we would win, but unfortunately tensions would only rise between us, and Russia and China. Also, I'm sure there are plenty of other countries that may not be too thrilled about this action by the military. I hope that the people of Syria can overthrow al-Assad's government before outside influences take over the situation.

A lesson for all Islamic countries, do all your business with Russia and China and abandon the greedy American capitalists for good. This is how they have been playing you for years. First they put their chosen dictator in charge of your country, and sell him arms which he is forced to buy to stay in power, in return they rape the resources of your country for years. At the first instance this dictator disobeys his master or stands up against his master’s master Israel, which is trying to bully its way into existence and domination on your stolen land, they either, 1) invade your country and steal more of your resources to rebuild your infrastructure that they destroyed during invasion and sell you more arms which you are now forced to buy to maintain stability caused by a sudden power vacuum, or 2) Fund and arm the dictator’s opposition, and let you kill each other while they bomb you from the sky to replace him, and again steal more of your resources in exchange for more arms that the dictator’s opposition is now forced to buy to maintain stability in the country. Look at the same pattern in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Libya, …………………etc. So the choice is yours, do all your business with the greedy American capitalists and get your resources stolen and end up getting bombed and killed, or do all your business with Russia and China, and have loyal steadfast friends on your side in both good times and bad, who will always respect your sovereignty.

Somebody tell the Russians the part about not adding outside supplied weapons to the situation. The Russians & Chinese are, in effect, guaranteeing the Assad regime their backing. Just how dangerous is that for the situation as a whole?

uh oh here we go again.Reading our military for another invasion of another middle eastern country.Let the UN or Syrian people take care of it ,not our military.Haven't we lost enough soldiers in the last two conflicts/

you are an idiot. As a Canadian, i know more about your country than you ever will. The Pentagon has a plan to invade any country, including Canada. It is part of their job to be proactive in that sense.

Always love how people from other countries know more about the USA than our own citizens. Thanks Fox News.

February 7, 2012 at 11:11 pm |

Frank

Maybe you Canadians should keep your big ears focused on your own country....like maybe pay for your own freaking defense instead of the U.S. footing the majority of the bill. And, there's always Quebec to keep you occupied...just a matter of time before they take the plunge, separate, and no more Canada.

We did that to Afganistan in the 1980's. A lot of that equipment that special forces didn't destroy after refusing to sell it back to the USA were used against our troops. That's why we're not tossing weapons at resistance fighters.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.